Film winding apparatus



Jan. 24, 1950 J. F. PROCH FILM WINDING APPARATUS s sheets-sheet 1 v INVENTOR JOSEPH E PROCH kQ rh M k 1 Filed July 6, 1948 FIG.4

Jan. 24, 1950 J. F. PRocH 2,495,344

FILM WINDING APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTIOR 72 JOSEPH F- PROCH ATTYS Jan. 24, 1950 J. F. PROCH 2,495,344

FILM WINDING APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1948 V 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR m... VJO-SCPH E PROCH K1 MAL Kl A'TTY'S.

Patented Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILM WINDING APPARATUS Joseph F. Proch, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 6, 1948, Serial No. 37,197

111 claims, (01. 8818.7)

This invention relates to motion picture projector apparatus. More particularly, my inven- .tion relates to improvements in film winding apparatus in which the film, after being projected, winds into a take-up drum with the leading end of the film outermost. Thus the starting end of the film is on the outside of the spool of film after the film has been wound up.

An object of my invention is to provide film winding apparatus in which the movement of the film feeding into the take-up drum is used to turn said drum,

Another object of the present inventionis to provide film feeding mechanism which automatically compensates for the varying thickness of t e film as it is being wound into the takesup drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide film winding apparatus in which the film is easily removed from the take-up drum and transferred to a storage reel.

Another object is to provide film winding mechanism capable of handlin films of different lengths.

Another object of my invention is to provide film winding apparatus which is dependable in its operation, which safeguards the film, and which greatly reduces the time normally devoted to rewinding the film.

To this end, the present invention utilizes the force imparted to the film by means of novel feed mechanism, to turn the take-up drum and to cause the film feed mechanism to move inwardly, with respect to the axis .of the drum, to compensate for variationsin the thickness of the spooled film; By this expedient the take-up drum may be freed of all drive mechanism, and can therefore be of simple and efficient construction; Similarly, by means of novel-hinging mechanism, the

film feed mechanism may be moved away. from.

pointed out as this description proceeds, or as are inherent in the present invention. Forpurposes of clarity in exposition, the following description is explicit, and the accompanying drawings are detailed, but it is distinctly to be understood that 2 said exposition is illustrative only, and that my invention is not restricted to the particular details recited in the specification or shown in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front eleva-tional view of a motion picture projector incorporating my novel film winding apparatus;

Figure 2 isa side elevational view of a portion of my invention showing details of the film feed mechanism;

7 Figure 3 is a side elevational View of a detail of the film feed mechanism; 7

Figure 4 is a detail of the gear system of the film feed mechanism of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan View taken in section on line 44 of Figure 3';

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the liner which cooperates with the take-up drum;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 'll' of Figure 1, showing the liner of Figure 6 in position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view, in front elegation, of the take-up drum with the liner in posi- Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the storage reel showing the positions of the several parts thereof when film is wound upon the reel;

Figure 10 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 9, in which the film supporting rollers are shown wound into the center of the reel;

Figure '11 is a plan elevational View taken in section on line H- l i of Figure 9 showing a retainer plate in position to retain the film upon the film supporting rollers, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation, showing details of the center opening of the retainer plate.

Like reference numerals designate like parts in the drawings and in the description which fol lows.

Before proceedi with a detailed description of the construction and operation of the several parts, comprising the embodiment shown in the drawings, and. to better indicate the broadconcent of my invention, I have described, in brief outline below, the broad organization of the parts comprising said embodiment. to

Thus, Figure l is shown a motion picture projectorili which includes conventional drive sprockets 2i and 22, afilm gate 23, and projector lens 24, and an arm 25 to support the storage reel 26, from which film 2! is spooled and threaded in the customar manner through the film gate 23.

After being threaded through the film gate 23, the film 2? is threaded through the film feed mechanism 28. As the film feeds from the guide members 29 of the feed mechanism 28, it is spooled into the take-up drum or reel 38, which is rotat ably supported on the arm 3|. As shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the film feed mechanism 28 deflects toward the axis of the take-up spool 38 as the thickness of the film 21 within the take-up drum 30 increases.

Film feed mechanism The film feed mechanism 28 includes a pair of upper rollers 32, 32 and a pair of film guides or channels 29, 29, the bottom portions of which are formed into a helix to facilitate feeding the fihn 21 into the take-up drum 30. A pair of sprocket wheels 32 and engage the edge perforations or sprocket holes formed in the edge of the film 27.

Power to drive the sprocket wheels 34 and 35 is supplied by the belt 36 which drives the pulley 21. A spur or sun gear 38 is driven by the pulley 3'! through the shaft 39 and is pivotally supported by the frame member 42.

Referring now to Figure 4, the sun gear meshes with and drives the spur or planetary gear 48, which is supported by the arm 4|. The planetary gear 40 in turn drives the shaft 43 which is linked to the fiexible spring shaft 44. Also coupled to the shaft 43 is the pivot block 41. The block 4"! translates along the slot 46 in the arm 45, thereby permitting rotation of the gear 40 about the gear 38. The arm pivots about the shaft 48 as a center and is spring-loaded by the torsional spring 49 (best shown in Figures 2 and. 5), one end. of which is anchored to the frame member 5|. As the arm 65 turns, therefore, a restoring force is exerted by the spring 49.

Referring now to Figure 5, the shaft 48 is shown as including a portion 50 one end of which is secured to the frame member 5|. The other end of the portion 50 is hinged to the portion 52 by the pivot pin 53. Consequently, the shaft portion 52 can pivot only in a vertical plane. A retaining nut 54 is threaded onto the threaded section 55 of the portion 52, and retains a coil spring 56 which surrounds the shaft 48. The spring 56 acts to resist any upward, vertical deflection of the shaft portion 52, so that the two portions of the shaft 48 always tend to remain in a horizontal position. The shaft portion 52 also carries two pivot blocks 57 and 58, which act as supports for the frame 59 to which the guide members 29, 29 are secured. By means of the adjustment screws 69 and the cooperating retainer nuts 6 I, the position of the guide members 29, 26 may be adjusted relative to the shaft 58.

Take-up drum Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the take-up drum 38 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 62 supported by the arm 3|. The take-up drum 38 comprises a circular backing plate 63 and a flange 64, the flange 64 containing an annular groove 65. A circular retaining plate 66 is normally positioned within the take-up spool 38 next to the backing plate 63, for the reasons explained below in conjunction with the operation of my invention. As best shown in Figure 12, the retaining plate 66 includes a center bushing 61 and a spring detent 68.

Referring now to Figure 7, the liner 59 is split to permit expansion thereof, and is further characterized by a pair of outwardly extending annular grooves 10 and II. When the liner 69 is inserted within the take-up drum 36, the grooves 10 and II ride on the flange 64 and compress the liner 69 an amount sufiicient to retain the plate 66 securely in place. By moving the liner 69 away from the backing plate 63 a slight amount, however, the groove 10 engages the groove 65. thereby permitting the liner 69 to expand sufficiently to permit the withdrawal of the plate 66. To assist in moving the liner 69 outwardly the proper distance, a plurality of studs 12 are provided about the circumference of the liner 69. Figure 8 shows the manner in which the ends of the liner 69 overlap. In operating the projector 20, this overlap provides a stop or catch for the end of the film 21.

Storage reel Referring now to Figures 9-11, the storage reel 26 includes a circular plate 13 having a central opening 14. A shaft 15 is journaled within this opening 14 and is provided with a handle 18 at the one end thereof. A ratchet plate 18 is secured to the plate 13 concentric with the opening 74', the teeth of the plate 18 normally engaged with a detent 19 carried by the handle 16. The shaft 15 carries a collar 88 which restrains a helical compression spring 8|, and is further characterized by a groove 1! in one end thereof.

A plurality of slots 82 are formed in the plate 13, the drawings showing these slots to be arranged in a radial pattern although other patterns having a radial component may obviously be used. Film support rollers 83 ride within and are guided by the slot 82. Each of the film support rollers 83 is secured to one end of a fiat spring 84, the other end of each spring being secured to the hub portion of the shaft 15. By turning the handle 16, and thereby turning the shaft 15, the springs 84 may be wound up about the hub portion 85 in coil-like fashion. The appearance of the reel 26 when the rollers 83 are thus wound into the center of the plate 13, is shown in Figure 10. Conversely, the rollers 83 may be released from the position of Figure 10 and moved radially outward under the action of the springs 84 by causing the plate 13 to move relative to the shaft 15 against the action of the spring 8|, thereby causing the detent '19 to disengage with the ratchet plate 18.

When the reel 26 is used for the storage of film, the film 2'! is supported in place by the support rollers 83. The retaining plate 86, which may be identical with the retaining plate 66, is secured to the shaft 15 by the coaction of the spring detent 68 (Figure 12) and the groove 11. A washer 87 is positioned between the bushing 61 and the hub portion 85 of the shaft 15.

Operation After the storage reel 26 has been placed upon the projector 20 in the manner shown in Figure 1, the film 21 is threaded through the drive sprockets 2| and 22 and the film gate 23 in the conventional manner. Following this, the film 21 is threaded between the rollers 32 and 33, into the guide members 29, 29.

To prepare the take-up drum 3D for operation, the liner 69 is pulled away from the backing plate 63 until the groove 70 aligns itself with the groove 65 in the flange 64 of the spool 30. After the liner has been placed in this position, there is sufficient clearance for the insertion of the retaining plate 66 (or 86) after which the plate 65 is secured in place by moving the liner 69 into the position shown in Figure 7. While in this As indicated above, power to drive the 21 'is' obtained through planetary gear mechanism and a flexible coupling used in conjunctionthcrewith. fMore explicitly, the pulle 3? turns, the sun gear 33 drives the planetary gear All, thereby rotating the sprocket wheels 3.4 and 35 through she flexible spring shaft 44.. ,At the same time,

the 11 131153. arr gear in mar rotate through a limited are about the shaft against the resistan of the torsional spring "When :the -film feed mechanism 28 is in the position shown in Figure '1, and :film commences to feed from the guide members 29, 29 the ;r.eactive force exerted by the film 7 is almost directly vertical. Hence, the rotating or tangential force component acting on the members i 29,129-is relatively small and the spring as is able to resist turning. As thickness of the vfilm coiled into :the drum Bil increases, however, the reactive force .exertedby the 21 on the mem hers 29., :29 shifts from :the vertical, and the 'tan gential force component increases. This causes the guide members :259, 2:5 to turn against the re- .sistance of the spring :49 until a new equilibrium condition :is reached. In this way, the guide members 29., E9 automatically displace to com pensate for the changin thickness or the coile film as the drum so rotates. .At the same time, the guide members 29, 28 are always at a position which gives a raviora'bie utilization of .the power imparted to the film :by the sprocket wheel-s and 35, .ifor the purpose or turning the drum 73.0..

' To obtain optimum utilization of this driving force, it may .be necessary to adjust the referonce .or null position of the film feed mechanism 218.. .As best shown by Figures 3 and 15, this adiustment is obtained by means of the adjustment screws 50., the net eflect being to reposition the frame '25 with resnect to the pivot block-s i5 1 and 5.8. This acts toztnm the guide members 259, 2% about the shaft 43 the direction of turning de pending con the ting of the shaft 138 rela" tive to shaft d3. Thus, of example, topswing the helix portion of the guide members 29, '2'9 counter-clockwise, and thereby obtain a some. what greater driving force acting on the drum 3!), the left hand screw as of Figure 3,Sh0ll'1d'b.8 loosened, and the right screw on tightened. After the desired adjustment has been effected, the retaining :nuts B1 are then tightened. "llo turn the helix portion in a clockwise direction, the right hand screw fill is loosened and the left hand screw 60 is tightened.

; ,AfiJQlT the film on the storage rec-"l 2-6 has been wound into the take-up drum the plate as :is-rcmoved from the storage reel 26, following which the handle i6 is turned so as to wind the rollers 33 into the position shown in Figure 141 Next, the feed mechanism is out and away from the drum is by means or the hinge construction of the shaft .48. "This: enables the operator to insert the plate i3 within thedrum sothat the shalt is is aligned with the opening 14 within the bushing .51 of :the plate .66-(or #i),,.., .l3.o1l0wing this, the plate 6 secured to the shait 1'5 by snapping the spring deterit 5.8 into the groove TI. By applying pressure to the central portion :of :the plate 1'3, so that it flexes inwardly a slight amount, the ratchet plate 1 8 is disengaged from the detent 19, thereby per:- mitting the springs ,82 to move the rollers :83 along the slots 82 until the rollers 83 engage the innermost layer of the film 21. Upon releasing the pressure :upon the plate 13, the spring 81 acts to reengage the ratchet plate 7 8 with the detent .115 so that this new position is retained securely. will thus be apparent that by the :use of the few simple steps described above that the film is once again stoned upon the storage reel 26.

To remove the storage reel 2:6 from the drum .30., it is only necessary to pull the liner 269 out a slight amount so that the groove 1U engages within the groove 65, thereby permitting the liner 59 to expand an amount sufiicient to permit the withdrawal of the plate 166.. :Since the -first shown portion of the film '2] is on the outside :of the film 27! stored on the storage reel 26, it is apparent that the film is now ready for another showing and that no rewind operation is required. It will thus be apparent that the objects set forth above have been fulfilled by the film winding apparatus described and shown herein.

While I have shown and described certain cmbod-iments of my invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments have been given by way of example only and that various changes and rearrangements of the details shown herein may be made without departing from the spirit :of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim;

1. A motion picture projector comprising: a first shaft, a storage reel on said shaft, a film gate, sprocket drive means for drawing film through said film gate, a second shaft, a talre- 11p drum having a .deep flange thereon, said drum freely rotatable on said second shaft, a split liner concentric with said flange and extending out wardly therefrom, .a film guide guiding said film from said drive means into said drum, means for securing the leading end of said film adjacent said liner of said drum, mechanism for feeding said film through said film guide to impinge on said liner and turn said drum, whereby said film is rewound in said drum, with the leading end outermost, means for displacing said film guide to accommodate the increasing number of layers of film as said drum rotates, and other means for spring-loading said film guide to oppose dis placement =thereof.

2. A device as defined in claim'i, wherein said storage reel comprises? a first plate having a first center opening and a plurality of radially disposed slots therein; a film support for each of said slots and movable therealong; a shaft in said center opening, said shaft-having a handle on one end thereof and a groove in the other end thereof; ratchet mechanism between said harledie and said plate whereby said shaft maybe locked against turning in one direction; a fiat; coilable spring between each of said film sup ports and said shaft, respectively, whereby tun-1+ ing said handle in one direction spring-winds said film supports toward said central opening, and whereby said ratchet mechanism prevents outward movement cf-saidl: supports under the action of said springs; a collar on said shaft: .a helical spring between said shaft and said thin plate, whereby flexing the first plate against said spring releases said ratchet mechanism to per-'- mit said supports to move outward radially, and whereby release of said first plate re-engages said ratchet mechanism; a second plate having a second center opening therein; and a snap spring extending into said second opening and adapted to engage said groove in said shaft, whereby said second plate is removably secured to said shaft.

3. A projector as defined in claim 1, wherein said mechanism for feeding said film comprises a pair of parallel-spaced channels adapted to receive the edges, respectively, of said film, said channels terminating in a helix which normally extends within said liner, and at least one sprocket wheel adapted to engage perforations in an edge of said film to drive said film along said channels.

4. In a motion picture projector including a first shaft, a storage reel on said first shaft, a film gate and means for drawing film therethrough, other means for rewinding said film with the leading end outermost, said other means comprising: a first shaft, a plate pivoted on said first shaft, flange means on said plate, a second shaft parallel with said first shaft, a film guide member pivotably secured to the outer free end of said second shaft, a pair of sprocket wheels carried by said guide member to engage said film, a first driven gear, a planetary gear movable about said first gear, a link pivoted on said second shaft and having a slot therein, a member slidable in said slot, a third shaft turned by said planetary gear and journaled by said block, a torsion spring between said link and said second shaft, and a flexible spring coupling between said third shaft and said sprocket wheels.

5. In a motion picture projector including a film gate and means for drawing film therethrough, other means for rewinding said film with the leading end outermost, said other means comprising: a first shaft, a plate pivoted on said first shaft, flange means on said plate, a second shaft, a film guide member pivotably secured to the outer end of said second shaft, hinge means in said second shaft whereby said guide member may be moved away from said plate, a pair of sprocket wheels carried by said guide member to engage said film, a first driven gear, a planetary gear movable about said first gear, a flexible drive shaft between said planetary gear and said sprocket wheels, whereby said guide member may rotate about said second shaft as said film adjacent said flange means increases in thickness, and spring means connected to said planetary gear to resist rotation of said guide member.

- 6. A motion picture projector comprising: a first shaft; a storage reel detachably mounted on said first shaft and including a first plate having a center opening therein, a plurality of guide means radially disposed in said first plate, a plurality of fingers movable, respectively, along said guide means, a center support member extending through said opening in said first plate, means for turning said member, ratchet mechanism interconnecting said plate and said turning means whereby said turning member may be locked against turning in one direction, a plurality of coilable springs each between a differentone of said fingers and said support member,

whereby turning said member in one direction spring-winds said fingers toward said member, means for disengaging said ratchet mechanism, whereby said fingers are spring driven away from said member, a second plate having a center opening therein shaped to receive said member, and means securing said second plate to said second member; a film gate; means for passing film through said film gate; and means for rewinding said film with the leading end outermost, said rewinding means including a second shaft and a flanged plate freely rotatable thereon, means carried by the flange portion of said flanged plate for securing the end of said film, mechanism feeding said film onto said flange portion, whereby the force exerted on said flange portion by said film turns said flanged plate to wind up the film, and means for displacing said mechanism to accommodate the increasing number of layers of film as said flanged plate rotates.

7. A motion picture projector comprising: a first shaft; a storage reel mounted on said shaft; a film gate; means for passing film through said film gate; and means for rewinding said film with the leading end outermost, said rewinding means including a second shaft and a plate freely rotatable thereon, a flange on the periphery of said plate, said flange having an outwardly extending annular groove therein, and a flexible split liner adapted to fit within said flange with the ends thereof overlapping, said liner having an outwardly extending annular groove therein, which rides upon said flange when said liner is in normal operating position, and which engages said groove in said flange when said liner is pulled away from said plate, mechanism feeding said film on to said split liner, the overlapping ends of said liner providing a stop for the end of said film, whereby the force exerted on said liner by said film turns said plate to wind up said film, and means for displacing said mechanism to accommodate the increasing number of layers of film as said plate rotates.

8. A motion picture projector comprising: a first shaft; a storage reel mounted on said shaft; a film gate; means for passing film through said film gate; and means for rewinding said film with the leading end outermost, said rewinding means including a second shaft and a plate rotatably mounted thereon, said plate including flange means thereon, means carried by said flange means for securing the end of said film, a support member, a pair of parallel-spaced channels pivotally mounted on said support member to receive said film, said channels terminating in a helix portion normally extending between said flange means, rotary film engaging members in terconnected with said channels to feed said film along said channels against said flange means whereby the force exerted on said flange means by said film turns said plate to wind up said film, a rotatable, driven member, flexible drive means between said driven member and said film engaging members, and spring means resisting rotation of said channels about said support member, whereby said channels may displace to accommodate the increasing number of layers of film as said plate rotates.

9. A storage reel for motion picture projectors, comprising a first plate having a first center opening therein, a plurality of guide means associated with said first plate and a plurality of film supporting elements movable therealong, respectively, said guide means conformed so that said elements move in a radial direction, a rotatable member extending through said first opening, mechanism connecting said plate and said mem- :ber for locking said member against turning in one direction, a coilable, resilient member between each of said elements and said turnable member, whereby turning said rotatable member in one direction tensions said resilient member and draws said elements toward said rotatable member, means for disengaging said mechanism, whereby said elements move away from said rotatable member by the energy forces stored in said resilient members, a second plate having a second center opening therein adapted to receive said rotatable member, and means securing said second plate to said rotatable member.

10. In motion picture projector apparatus, a fllm take-up drum comprising, a circular plate rotatable on a shaft, a flange extending from said plate and having a first groove therein, and a split liner positionable within said flange, said liner having a second groove therein which is aligned with said first groove when said liner is partially disengaged from said flange, said second groove riding up upon said flange when said liner is fully engaged with said flange.

11. In a motion picture projector, apparatus for rewinding said film with the leading end outermost, including a shaft, a plate rotatably supported by said shaft and including flange means thereon, guide means for receiving said film terminating in a helix portion normally extending between said flange means, a member about which said guide means turns, means to feed said film through said guide means against said flange means, whereby the force exerted by said film moving against said flange means turns said plate to wind up said film, a flexible drive shaft coupled to said feed means, and spring means connected to said guide means for resisting rotational movement thereof about said member.

JOSEPH F. PROCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3:; Number Name Date 1,551,037 Lube Aug. 25, 1925 2,039,949 Bombrun May 5, 1936 

